UNMOGIP asked to vacate official accommodation: India

India Tuesday said that the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has been asked to vacate its government-provided accommodation here.

A communication has been sent to the United Nations that UNMOGIP has "outlived" its relevance, said the external affairs ministry.

"As far as we are concerned, we have always maintained that UNMOGIP has outlived its relevance. This is a consistent stand we have taken and articulated over the time," ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the media here.

He added that the government has decided that the UNMOGIP would no longer be given accommodation free of cost.

The UNMOGIP, established under a UN Security Council Resolution to supervise the ceasefire line established under the Karachi agreement of July 1949, is currently stationed in a 7,000 sq feet bungalow at Purana Qila Road here.

"Yes we have asked them to vacate the bungalow which was provided to them free of cost," said Akbaruddin.

Asked if a deadline has been issued to this end, he said UNMOGIP has only been indicated that they need to vacate the place.

"These are diplomatic communications and these things are worked out quietly behind the scenes," Akbaruddin said, hinting that UNMOGIP would get adequate time to vacate.